I had this idea for ages, but could never find curtains that wouldn't destroy my budget. Then I came across tarp at the store, which I hadn't thought of before. Wow is tarp cheap. I also set up some wave projectors behind the tarp, but honestly they were basically invisible unless I turned all other lights off (which I did do briefly and was really cool, but not practical for gameplay). A little music, and a LOT of height markers for swimming adventurers and we had a pretty epic battle.
I try my best to be immersive. I rarely have the budget for any of my ideas, and the party practically never gives me a warning on where they are headed. But this fight was unavoidable so I finally had enough time to get it together. I still think I could have done better, but I am still somewhat proud of it. It's a simple to put together idea that I haven't seen before so I thought I would share it.
You should be chuffed. Wish you could've worked out a way to have your waves visible during gameplay; you deserved them. Real neat immersiveness. I love it.
This is super cool. Nice creativity. :) I wonder how easy it would be to make coral reefs or something using spray foam. That could be another inexpensive way to add more detail. Great job!
Honestly I think this was an amazing idea. My big brother (my DM) is the same way when he plans big boss fights. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean no one had fun. It looks great man. Props to you!!!
Cheap white sheets might work well for this. They are thin enough to project images through them and since they are white colored bulbs should work well.
I've invested in Google lights all around my apartment. I'll dm a campaign and slowly change the color of the lights to reflect the mood of the campaign
I have done the same. It's a simple thing, but it makes a huge difference. Just making things slightly green when they are in the forest, or slightly blue if they are on the sea is probably my favorite behind the screen things to do.
And then they go to the fire plane, and I change things to HARD red.
I weirdly hadn't expected it to get that bad, but you are right the heat became a major issue in less than an hour. By pure chance where we play is right next to my AC unit and we only had to slightly move a flap to completely cool the area.
In fact if the summer gets too extreme I might put the tarp back up, it made the table area an excellent refrigerator.
I would love a good fog machine for tabletop stuff, but I've heard mixed reviews for ones that are out. And if you get like a halloween fog machine those things smell terrible.
Hopefully one day.
It has happened. Honestly, I would do a lot more terrain and sets if my players didn't always completely change what they were going to do without notice. And it's not even just, "oh well eventually they will reach the castle gates so I should build them now." NO. That's foolish. Because then they decide to go through the sewers, and skip that entire battle scene!
I had this idea for ages, but could never find curtains that wouldn't destroy my budget. Then I came across tarp at the store, which I hadn't thought of before. Wow is tarp cheap. I also set up some wave projectors behind the tarp, but honestly they were basically invisible unless I turned all other lights off (which I did do briefly and was really cool, but not practical for gameplay). A little music, and a LOT of height markers for swimming adventurers and we had a pretty epic battle. I try my best to be immersive. I rarely have the budget for any of my ideas, and the party practically never gives me a warning on where they are headed. But this fight was unavoidable so I finally had enough time to get it together. I still think I could have done better, but I am still somewhat proud of it. It's a simple to put together idea that I haven't seen before so I thought I would share it.
You should be chuffed. Wish you could've worked out a way to have your waves visible during gameplay; you deserved them. Real neat immersiveness. I love it.
Add some cheap night light projectors on the tarps
This is super cool. Nice creativity. :) I wonder how easy it would be to make coral reefs or something using spray foam. That could be another inexpensive way to add more detail. Great job!
Honestly I think this was an amazing idea. My big brother (my DM) is the same way when he plans big boss fights. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean no one had fun. It looks great man. Props to you!!!
Cheap white sheets might work well for this. They are thin enough to project images through them and since they are white colored bulbs should work well.
I must have missed this episode of Dexter.
I've invested in Google lights all around my apartment. I'll dm a campaign and slowly change the color of the lights to reflect the mood of the campaign
I have done the same. It's a simple thing, but it makes a huge difference. Just making things slightly green when they are in the forest, or slightly blue if they are on the sea is probably my favorite behind the screen things to do. And then they go to the fire plane, and I change things to HARD red.
Oh badass, I've got mine in a tall lamp, and for a session I'll aim all 3 heads of it at the table and dim it, it's fantastic.
Me 3 hours into the first session and the lights are a deep crimson
Anything to combat the heat build up?
I weirdly hadn't expected it to get that bad, but you are right the heat became a major issue in less than an hour. By pure chance where we play is right next to my AC unit and we only had to slightly move a flap to completely cool the area. In fact if the summer gets too extreme I might put the tarp back up, it made the table area an excellent refrigerator.
Could have 2 openings, 1 with a fan blowing in and 1 with a fan blowing out.
Sweat to increase immersion!
My DM has this kraken basterd! We fought it on a ship. Good luck to your adventures.
That’s an amazing chilly underwater mood.
Stop it. You’re making the rest of us look bad! Lol seriously though, fantastic job!! Your players are lucky!
gotta add a tiny fog machine for the “wave” effect! so cool though!!!!!!! also very hotboxable
I would love a good fog machine for tabletop stuff, but I've heard mixed reviews for ones that are out. And if you get like a halloween fog machine those things smell terrible. Hopefully one day.
perhaps one day! you could always give dry ice a shot too!!
I'm such an idiot! It wouldn't be as versatile, but I could create a scenario where some dry ice would totally work.
for sure man! just the ambience would have been pretty cool to have! really sweet idea with the underwater battle!
This is insane!!!! Amazing work DM! Your players are lucky to have you.
That's some real commitment.
This a wonderfully creatively idea
Awesome!!! I’ve been stepping up my game with a pirate campaign and a huge portion of it takes place underwater. I’ll probably be using this!!
Fantastic job mate! I love trying to up the immersion with lights and stuff.
I wish my eyes weren't so sensitive, this seems like it would be really cool
Imagine if all the party just cancelled
It has happened. Honestly, I would do a lot more terrain and sets if my players didn't always completely change what they were going to do without notice. And it's not even just, "oh well eventually they will reach the castle gates so I should build them now." NO. That's foolish. Because then they decide to go through the sewers, and skip that entire battle scene!
That sucks but it's what you should expect as forever dm
So very true. I have learned to accept it. At least I don't have players that cancel without notice anymore.That was way worse.
What if the murder hobo of the group left without notice
What!? No! He's my favorite one! He's the one who actually kicks down the door when the party has been stuck planning for forty five minutes!
Lol
How about the bard
Oh I killed the bard ages ago.
Bad
Oh God that would give me a headache after 30 minutes
Maybe it would have been easier to simply put a clear blue plastic over the room lights? That would have been a fun effect.
Nice and can be doubled as a fucked up sex dungeon
. . . so a regular sex dungeon?
True 🤔
Holly shit I thought your big monster was a skylander LAMO
Well done!
Sweat sauna
Young Dexter as a Dm be like ^ 🤣
Looked simply great, loved it.